‘Dawson’s Creek’ Creator Jokes James Van Der Beek ‘Started Out as a Brat’ Before ‘Full Character Arc’

Dawson’s Creek creator Kevin Williamson is reflecting on his time working with the late James Van Der Beek.

Williamson, 61, paid tribute to Van Der Beek, who died in February at the age of 48 following a battle with colorectal cancer, while receiving the Hero Award at the Barbara Berlanti Heroes Gala in Santa Monica, California, on Saturday, October 3, for his role in organizing the Dawson’s Creek table read held to support Van Der Beek following his diagnosis.

“James Van Der Beek gave voice to my childhood,” Williamson said of Van Der Beek, per Deadline. Van Der Beek famously played Dawson Leery on the beloved ’90s drama, which was inspired by Williamson’s own youth.

“He was the soul of the show, and anyway, he was the ultimate upgrade,” he continued. “I had the great pleasure of knowing James over many years. I saw him go from a young kid to an extraordinary man — a husband, a father and a friend.”

During that time, Williamson, who was presented the award by fellow Dawson’s Creek alum Joshua Jackson, said he saw Van Der Beek make a “full character arc,” joking that the Varsity Blues actor “started out as a brat.”

“He would get a script, and he would call me, and he would be like, ‘Why do I have to say this word? Nobody knows what this word means,'” Williamson said. “And I would say, ‘Well, don’t worry about it, the way you mumble, nobody is going to hear it anyway.’ That was our relationship — Dawson talking to Dawson.”

Touching on Van Der Beek’s health battle during the event, which raises money for early cancer detection and prevention, Williamson, who lost his own mother to the disease, shared how difficult it was not having the actor at the 2025 table read.

“The only thing missing was James. He was meant to be there. We were holding down hope until the last second, the doctors just wouldn’t let him get on the plane, but he still showed up that night with his unshakable courage and his spirit,” Williamson recalled, adding that Van Der Beek’s death really “knocked me over.”

He continued, “I think he’s here with us tonight. He’s going to be with us for always. He’s awesome, and so I can’t pretend I’m worthy of any award but I will accept it. I’ll accept it in memory of my mother. I will accept it in the memory of James Van Der Beek, and I will accept it for the entire Dawson’s Creek family.”